1
as in timid
easily frightened
a shy cat who hid under the bed every time she heard any loud noise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in withdrawn
not comfortable around people
a shy person who finds talking to anyone but a close friend to be an awkward and unpleasant experience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lacking
not coming up to an expected measure or meeting a particular need
the team is shy a couple of players because of illness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in notorious
not respectable
she was nervous about being left alone in a shy bar in a bad section of town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of shy
J.d. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
30 June 2026
Williams has won seven Wimbledon titles (two shy of Martina Navratilova’s record) and entered Tuesday’s match with a 98-14 overall record at the tournament.
—
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Wendell Wallach,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
Families speak out on memorial Victims’ family members who have been advocating for the permanent memorial for years did not shy away from the issue while speaking at the event.
—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shy
Adjective
Total exports of portable air conditioners from China to Western Europe had already surged 70% in the first five months of 2026, before severe summer heat swept the AC-shy continent.
—
J.d. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
30 June 2026
Williams has won seven Wimbledon titles (two shy of Martina Navratilova’s record) and entered Tuesday’s match with a 98-14 overall record at the tournament.
—
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Verb
The security of democracy while paramount will, however, be difficult to achieve if Europeans shy away from hard choices necessary to enact effective legislation.
—
Wendell Wallach,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
Families speak out on memorial Victims’ family members who have been advocating for the permanent memorial for years did not shy away from the issue while speaking at the event.
—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shy
Adjective
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Playing Mary Bennet — Elizabeth’s younger and more timid sister — Bruccoleri set out to portray the coming of age story of a Regency woman.
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Don’t be timid; get the crust good and wet before proceeding.
Adjective
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The withdrawn draft focused on setting up several new watchdogs to keep AI in check, including a dedicated commission and a special insurance fund to help people if the new technology caused harm.
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The story follows Trey, a withdrawn ex-con surviving as a night driver on the city’s margins, who forms a tentative and increasingly intimate bond with Camden (Dafne Keen), a sharp and restless young woman working as a call girl.
Adjective
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Shuffling the opposition across to make space for a switch to the far side is a viable method of attack, but that can then come at the cost of a central box presence, with Portugal lacking runners beyond the ball.
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There is something to be found in both this character and the actress who plays her, but Alcock’s Kara did not have a chance to shine here in a lacking feature, and deserved better.
Adjective
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During an April 2024 interview with The Sun, John revealed that he was diagnosed with toxic peripheral polyneuropathy, a condition linked to his time at Camp Lejeune, a notorious military base in North Carolina, where the water was severely contaminated in the 1980s.
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Morey was fired in May after Philadelphia failed to get past the second round of the playoffs, extending the franchise's notorious Eastern Conference Finals drought.
Verb
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With five seasons of Disney media training under their belts, the trio didn’t flinch.
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Sipp slightly flinched his left arm before throwing a pitch to Emmanuel Burriss, allowing Miguel Tejada to score and sending San Francisco to its fourth straight win.
Adjective
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Over the course of a few days, this bashful teen, always armed with her camcorder and far less free-spirited than her cousins, will be beset by her father’s feuding family.
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Overall and head-to-head goal differential are tiebreakers for group placement, and the Norwegians won’t be bashful about scoring as many times as possible.
Adjective
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Those groups also have lower access to drugs that can stop the transmission of HIV.
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Last winter was the second-warmest on record, according to the city’s ordinance, with record low snowpack almost everywhere.
Adjective
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The Balboa Peninsula, which Stapleton represents on the council, has historically been an infamous hot spot for public drinking, disruptive parties and brawls throughout the summer and especially during the Fourth of July.
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The infamous Cristiano Ronaldo bust leads the list of sports statutes that have received less-than-flattering reviews.
Cite this Entry
“Shy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shy. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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